Keeper of the Wand

A Promise

Hey guys! We're back with Rose and Marco as they are going on a mission to save Star and the others. Will they be able to save them in time? Let's jump in and find out! :D

-Rose's POV-

"Follow this tunnel to the vine covered exit. From there, head north and you'll reach the temple," Eclipsa explained.

Marco and I nodded. We had ventured deep under the monster temple, the hallways looking similar to the ones we had stumbled across during the monster-mewmen party a while back. Except, there weren't any paintings on the walls. They had a similar design but noting indicating people come down here often. Eclipsa stopped at a oval patterned wall of green that had sunlight filtering through. She moved aside some of the vines and peeked out. After a moment, she stepped back and looked at the two of us. "I don't see any signs of the Solarian warriors. You should be safe to go now."

"We'll be as fast as we can," I said. Eclipsa shook her head, "I understand their is urgency, but you have to be cautious. Stealth above anything else. Otherwise, you will get caught."

I nodded. Eclipsa sighed and stepped aside, "Good luck you two. And please...keep each other safe."

I stepped past Eclipsa and into the outside. Marco followed, holding the two buckets he brought with us. Eclipsa watched us and let go of the vines. Looking back, if it wasn't for the fact we knew where the secret entrance was, we wouldn't have known there was one. I looked to Marco and whispered, "C'mon, we got to hurry."

"Eclipsa said-" He started.

"I know, but Star doesn't have a lot of time," I said. "And neither do the others. The sooner we hurry to the temple, the sooner we can help them. Actually-"

I stepped towards Marco, reaching for the buckets. "Let me take them; I'm quicker on my feet and will get to the temple first." Marco stepped back, the buckets swinging a bit. "Rose, calm down. I'm coming with you to make sure-"

"-I stay safe, I know" I finished, reaching again for the bucket. Marco moved them further out of reach, emphasizing, "To help you. I know you can handle yourself, but let me help with this. And please, don't rush into this."

I took a deep breath, getting annoyed. I let out a sigh, "Fine. At least let me take one bucket." Marco nodded and offered me one. As I took it, I accidentally grabbed his hand. Marco panicked and dropped the bucket. Before it could hit the ground, I caught it and started, "Marco, what on-?!"

I looked at him and saw how red his face and ears were. He held his wrist and said, "S-Sorry! I d-didn't mean to panic." Something in me started to flutter and I recognized the feeling well. Too well. I felt my face grow warm and I turned away, "Y-You're fine. Let's get moving."

The two us started walking. Well, Marco was walking while I was speed walking. Every five minutes or so, I would get so far ahead I would have to stop and wait for Marco. By the time the magic temple was in sight, I was becoming impatient. "Marco!" I stage whispered. "The temple is right there! Can you please go a little faster?!"

"Kind of hard to when we need to be quiet!" Marco whispered back. I stomped my foot and marched over to him. I snatched the bucket from him and said, "This is why I said let me take the bucket."

"Rose, wait!" Marco whispered, but I ignored him. I said, "Look, you can take your time, but I have my sister to save. And who knows how much time she and the others-!"

I wasn't paying attention. Had I been, I would've seen the tree root poking out from the ground. Instead, I tripped over it and slammed into the ground. Both of the buckets fell out of my hands and hit the ground with a lot of noise. Marco stood tensed and I stared in frozen horror. Slowly, I stood up and reached for the fallen buckets. But that was when I noticed they started to slightly shake. I stared in confusion until I saw it wasn't just the buckets but the ground as well was shaking. As if it was an earthquake. No, not an earthquake. Something big was moving.